The survey also revealed Russians are deeply opposed to ‘feminists’. When Lavada Center asked what should happen to feminists, 9% favored ‘liquidation’ with another 18% wanting to isolate them from society.

Just 13% wanted to assist feminists,41% would leave them to themselves and 19% found the question difficult to answer.

There was significantly more sympathy to people living with HIV and AIDS. Just 2% wanted to eliminate those with HIV. However, fears about the virus continue with 14% wanting to isolate them from other Russians.

Meanwhile 79% felt Russians should assist those with the virus, with just 2% saying they should be left to themselves and 3% finding the question hard to answer.

Indeed, the only groups Russians want to crack down on more than gays and lesbians are members of religious sects, radicals, terrorists, pedophilesand murderers.

By contrast they are less likely to favor ‘liquidation’ for homeless people, alcoholics, severely disabled people, beggars, drug addicts and prostitutes.

Are attitudes shifting?

However, as appalling as the attitudes towards LGBT+ people are, they are shifting slightly in the right direction.

The organization has run the survey irregularly since 1989. Back then, 35% wanted to ‘eliminate’ lesbian and gay people. The figure fell to 21% in 2015 and 18% today.

On the other hand, 1999 seems to be the highest point of acceptance for LGBT+ people in the survey. Then just 15% favored ‘liquidation’ – 3% less than now – and 23% isolation – 9% less than today.

Moreover, the way the Lavada Center has asked the question may have skewed the answers.

By contrast, a separate 2019 survey indicated some Russians have more tolerant attitudes. It found 47% agreed ‘gays and lesbians should enjoy the same rights as other citizens’ while 43% disagreed. This was the highest level of support in 14 years.

On the ground, Russia continues to be one of the most dangerous places to be LGBT+ in the world.

Homosexuality is legal in most of Russia, but is defacto illegal in Chechnya where the government has rounded up LGBT+ people and tortured and murdered them in concentration camps.

Across Russia, authorities use ‘gay propaganda’ laws to silence the LGBT+ community and prevent peaceful protest, particularly against the government.